DANVILLE —
Farm grounds in east central Illinois continue to slowly recover from the drought that swept across several states last year. More than two-thirds of the state — including Vermilion County — was listed in extreme or exceptional drought conditions at one point as a result of the drought conditions last year.
But winter with its rain and snow has made up for the dry summer, with above average precipitation each month since December.
With planting season right around the corner, Vermilion County farmer Steve Fourez said he is optimistic about the soil situation for local growers.
“I think that whatever we’ve had in the last six weeks has gotten the tiles starting to run a little bit,” he said. “Since we’ve not had a hard freeze, what we’re getting is filtering down in the ground more.”
He added the ground was so dry during fall tillage that it reminded him of frozen ground coffee — no moisture.
Numbers released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture back up that theory as reports from the eastern section of the state — including Vermilion County — show 71 percent of the topsoil ranked as having adequate moisture.
Deeper into the ground, the area subsoil is listed as 59 percent having adequate moisture.
The subsoil is an improvement in the situation compared to the end of November last year. USDA reports from Nov. 26 indicated less than 50 percent of the subsoil had adequate moisture then. In fact, 45 percent was listed as having short moisture compared to just 29 percent as of this week.
Topsoil moisture has moved down slightly as of late, with November figures actually showing 77 percent of the top soil as having adequate moisture.
Jim Angel, climatologist for the Illinois State Water Survey, said historically there is not a lot of carryover from drought years to the following spring. He noted the first two months of the year have been wetter thus far as evidenced by the standing water Angel has seen in many fields around the area.
“This is much better than it was last year,” he said. “At this time last year, it starting to dry out in many areas of the state.”
February received 3.13 inches of precipitation, more than an inch more than the average of 1.99 inches, according to numbers from Aqua Illinois. January’s precipitation totals also were up, as the Danville area received 4.08 inches of rain, double the average of 1.91 inches.
December recorded 3.04 inches of precipitation, still more than the average of 2.79 inches for the area. The area has received 8 inches of snow this season.
November is supposed to be a wet month for farmers, but rainfall fell well short of expectations. According to Aqua Illinois measurements, Danville received 1.14 inches of rain, less than half of the 3.53-inch rainfall average for November.
Fourez admitted he was nervous about soil moisture heading into the winter months.
“Everybody’s been petty glad to be getting what we’re getting” Fourez said about recent precipitation.
He added unless “something changes drastically,” he expects to be in the fields planting on a normal schedule this year.
The National Weather Service said in its three-month outlook that the best chance for Danville is temperatures higher than 52 degrees through the month of May.
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
